Thank you for your interest in reforming the voting system.
These are the reasons why I think the “First Past
the Post” system doesn’t work:
1. It encourages radical
pendulum swings in policy direction. This can result in stress in
the population and can increase the cost to tax payers.
2. Government may not reflect the
popular vote, as in the May 2001 elections.
3. Voters have a sense of powerlessness
because they feel their vote doesn’t count.
4. Rigidity in government flourishes.
Elected officials must toe the party line.
5. Ruling parties have an
unfair advantage in the next election. The party in power can
rearrange boundaries of political constituencies and set the
election date.
6. Sometimes voters are
forced to vote strategically. It is counterproductive for a voter
to choose a party she don’t like, just to stop a party
she likes even less from getting elected.
I think that we in BC should change to a Proportional
Representation form of elections. These are my reasons:
1. It better reflects how
people vote, whereas First Past the Post systems distort the
popular vote.
2. All votes count. This is fairer to
voters and parties.
3. Voter turnout is higher because
people feel that their vote counts.
4. Proportional Representation provides
more choice. The allocation of seats is a more accurate
representation of our diversity here in BC. The outcome is that
more parties are represented.
5. We are ruled by consensus,
not by a plurality.
6. Proportional Representation results
in a more responsive government.
7. It allows an MLA to vote against her
own party if she chooses and that will allow her to better reflect
her constituents.
8. Results in the election of more women
and ethnic minority MLAs.
9. Coalition governments are created.
Democracy is about sharing power, and coalition governments are a
natural and constructive outcome of democracy.
10. Most democratic countries in the world have this
system.
I think that we should go to the Mixed Member Proportional
Representation System (MMP). That is where half of the MLAs are
elected as usual. The other half are then elected from a party list
based on the proportion of the popular vote a party gets and the
individual’s ranking on their party
list.
I think that other forms of Proportional Representation would
work for us, but MMP would be a good stepping stone for BC voters.
It is one of the easiest versions of Proportional Representation to
understand. Once we get used to the MMP system, we will probably
discover that it has strengths and weaknesses. A healthy democracy
is one that adapts to the people and the times and is ever
evolving. If we find that there are some aspects of our newly
adopted system that are not working for us, we can make changes or
adopt a different version of Proportional Representation. I believe
that any form of Proportional Representation would be better than
what we have now.
I am glad to be able to actively participate in our democracy in
this way and for a chance to make a difference. I hope this helps
you in your decision.